15.01.10.01. 01 Purpose.. This chapter explains the requirements of the Spay/Neuter Grant Program. The purpose of this program, administered by the Department of Agriculture, is to reduce animal shelter overpopulation and cat and dog euthanasia rates by financing grants to local governments and animal welfare organizations for programs that most efficiently and effectively facilitate and promote spay and neuter services for cats and dogs.

15.01.10.02. 02 Definitions.. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.. B. Terms Defined.. 1) “Animal welfare organization” means a not-for-profit organization established to promote animal welfare that has received tax exempt status under 501(c)3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and is registered to do business in Maryland.2) “Department” means the Maryland Department of Agriculture.. 3) “Fund” means the Spay/Neuter Fund.. 4) “Project” means an act

15.01.10.04. 04 Grant Application Contents.. A qualified applicant who applies for a grant shall apply on a departmental form that includes, among other things, the following:A. The project title;. B. The applicant’s name and contact information;. C. The qualifications of the applicant and the personnel who will work on the project, including veterinary services, if applicable;D. The amount of the grant requested; and. E. A project description, which shall include:.

15.01.10.05. 05 Application Review and Approval.. A. The Department shall solicit one or more times annually, depending on available funding, competitive grant proposals to facilitate the delivery of spay and neuter services. It is the Department’s intent to select the best proposals that most efficiently and effectively facilitate and promote the provision of those services and target low-income communities and populations to the maximum extent possible.B. The Department shall p

15.01.10.06. 06 Grant Agreement.. Upon approval of a grant application by the Department, the applicant on a Departmental form, shall execute a grant agreement that, among other things, requires the applicant to:A. Establish and operate the project according to the project description;. B. Maintain and provide records and reports as required to the Department; and. C. Use grant funds for only those activities provided in the approved project application..

15.01.10.07. 07 Distribution of Grant.. The Department shall distribute grants, unless otherwise provided in the grant agreement, as follows:A. 50 percent of the grant will be disbursed after receipt of an executed grant agreement and after receipt of any required documentation; andB. The remaining 50 percent of the grant will be disbursed after receipt of the 2nd quarter report that is due 180 days after the grant cycle begins.

15.01.10.08. 08 Project Monitoring and Reporting.. A. The recipient of a spay/neuter grant shall:. 1) Keep and maintain complete and accurate records of all activities connected with the grant;. 2) Report relevant information to the Department on how the grant was used to date, including data on the number and type of spay or neuter procedures performed, and such other information as requested by the Department;3) Submit a final report, to the Department, both narrative and financial,

15.01.10.09. 09 Penalties.. If the Department determines that the grant recipient has violated the grant agreement or that grant funds have not been used for their intended purpose as provided in the grant agreement, the Department may:A. Discontinue any future grant payments;. B. Require the grant recipient to repay immediately to the Department the full amount of the grant, or a portion of the grant; andC. Deny any future grant eligibility to the grant recipient..

15.01.10.10. 10 Spay/Neuter Fund.. A. Any person who registers a commercial feed under Agriculture Article, §6-107, Annotated Code of Maryland, that is prepared and distributed for consumption by a cat or dog shall:1) Pay to the Department for use in the spay/neuter fund, the following fees for each registered brand or product:a) From October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014, inclusive ― $50;. b) From October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015, inclusive ― $75; and.